Gun found near shooting site

Hagerstown City Police on Thursday morning located a handgun as they continued what police have called a "slow-going" investigation into a Sunday shooting at Noland Village.

Lt. Rick Johnson said police received information that people related to the shooting had hidden weapons in a wooded area near Court 1 of Noland Village. A police dog uncovered a single gun Thursday, Johnson said.

Police were called to Court 1 at about 8 p.m. Sunday for reports of shots fired during a fight between two groups of men. No one was struck, but two to three bullets were fired.

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Police gathered witnesses after the shooting inside a residence in the 1000 block of Noland Court, but no one has been charged with a crime. Johnson said police have continued interviewing witnesses throughout the week.

Johnson said the investigation was "slow-going" this week because witnesses have provided police with little information.

"There are some people that have been less than forthcoming," Johnson said. "Most won't tell us why they're not cooperating."

Johnson said he would not speculate on whether residents were afraid to provide information because they feared for their safety.

Some residents intimated Sunday they did not wish to speak to the media or police because of the possibility of retribution. One resident who declined to give his name said he was frustrated with the increased "blatant drug trafficking" in the neighborhood because it is giving the area a bad name and because it is unsafe for children to play near the residences.

Sgt. Jim Hurd said Sunday the shots likely were fired from a small-caliber handgun.

Hurd said a fight broke out between two groups that included residents and visitors. He said police were looking into possible links to drug trafficking as a cause of the altercation.

Police descended upon the neighborhood after reports that a man wearing jeans and a red, white and blue jersey fired a gun in Court 1.